What individual counselling usually looks like

There's no single script we follow. Our work together will unfold at the speed of relationship and trust. That said, here's a general sense of what to expect.

We'll usually begin by simply arriving: noticing what's present for you today, in your body as much as in your thoughts. I often offer to begin with a grounding, mindfulness practice. From there, we might follow a specific challenge you're carrying (anxiety, burnout, a relationship struggle, a life transition), or we might follow a thread of curiosity about a pattern you keep noticing but can't quite name.

Rather than treating you as a problem to solve, I hold space for you as a whole person, someone made up of many parts, many stories, and many strengths and possibilities, some of which have simply gotten buried under stress, old roles, or difficult experiences. My role isn't to hand you answers. It's to walk alongside you as you find your own way back to clarity, self-trust, and ease.

Sessions are available in-person in Vancouver, virtually across BC, or in nature at select Vancouver and Burnaby parks.

The approaches that shape our work

I draw on a few complementary approaches, chosen because, together, they honour the interconnectedness between the body, the inner world, and the creative possibilities we all have in the midst of difficulties:

Mindfulness-Based Therapy We slow down enough to actually notice what's happening — in your body, your emotions, your thoughts — without rushing to fix or judge it. This present-moment awareness is often where real change quietly begins, especially if you've spent a long time living in your head or on autopilot.

Creative & Arts-Based Approaches Not everything that needs to be said can be found in words. If you've ever felt caught "in your head" during more traditional talk therapy, we can also explore the landscapes of your emotions through art, imagery, and creative expression — drawing, metaphor, or simply describing a feeling as a colour, shape, or scene in nature. This isn't about artistic skill; it's another language for the parts of your experience that logic alone can't quite reach.

Narrative Therapy We are all living inside stories – stories about who we are, what we're capable of, and what we deserve – many of which were handed to us rather than chosen. Narrative Therapy helps us notice these dominant stories, understand where they came from, and begin to author new ones that reflect your fuller, more resourceful self.

Parts Work Have you ever noticed yourself thinking "part of me wants this, but another part of me is terrified of it"? That's not a contradiction; it's simply how the mind works. Parts work invites us to get to know these different pieces of you individually: the anxious part, the achiever, the inner critic, the young part still holding an old wound. Rather than trying to push any of them away, we get curious about what each one is trying to do for you, and how they can begin to trust that you – your core Self – are capable of leading. Many clients describe this as the first time they've felt genuine compassion for parts of themselves they'd spent years trying to silence.

The kind of change this work can open up

Individual counselling isn't only about symptom relief, though that often happens too. Over time, many clients find their way toward:

• Wholeness: a felt sense of being all of yourself in one room, instead of constantly managing which parts you're allowed to show

• Connectedness: to your body, your emotions, the people around you, and, for many, to something larger than yourself

• Creativity : Newfound or resurfaced sense of creative possibilities in meeting life’s storms

• A deeper understanding of your life's patterns: recognizing the old stories, roles, and protective strategies that have been quietly steering your choices, and finding more freedom in how you respond

• Self-trust: a growing ability to turn toward your own experience with curiosity and compassion, rather than judgment or avoidance

• Ease: not the absence of hard things, but a steadier, more spacious way of meeting them

Ready to take the first step?

I offer a complimentary 20-minute Discovery Video Call to talk about what's going on for you and see if this feels like the right fit.